I am a designer & educator who writes & travels. With a deep interest in storytelling, creative entrepreneurship, cultural tourism, & user experience research/design, I work with individuals & companies around the world.

I believe DESIGN – and REdesign – is a powerful tool for communication.

I first was inspired to become a designer after a trip to Paris in high school. I saw decorated windows that caught my eye, and posters in the metro that were not only beautiful, but smart and clever too. (See my growing poster collection on pretavoyager.tumblr.com).

My work has spanned that of graphic designer and art director, and I think about experience design all the time, however, I most often consider myself to be a Communications Designer. While I incorporate design into my daily life and am more likely to teach others basic design skills than to take on design projects myself. However, from time to time I'll work on a day-rate basis depending on the project and the timing.

/SELECTED CLIENTS/

As a WRITER I find stories that allow people to travel vicariously with me.

I founded Prêt à Voyager (translation: ready to travel) in 2007 as a way to explore the intersection of travel and design with the motto: travel is not about where you go but how you see the world. Over the years I've shared over 1500 posts which are best archived as Visit Paris, Life in France, and {Un}Glamorous Paris. I have contributed to numerous publications, and from 2008-2013 I worked as a Contributing Editor for Design*Sponge.

The reason I love TEACHING is that I love learning.

My work as an educator, mentor, coach and facilitator wavers between online and offline worlds, traditional and non-traditional education, large groups and one-on-one consultations. I like being a bridge between different worlds, particularly teaching design to non-designers, or storytelling to those who have never blogged before. I teach in a way that skills can be applied beyond the project at hand, and become life skills. I'm a life-long learner and I also love sharing resources.

Studio/Practice is a side project with Lauren O'Neill which is a curated library of tips + tools for creative biz aka #thingsiwishilearnedinschool.

Guest lecturer: Maryland Institute College of Art, American University of Paris

I see myself more as a CREATIVE COACH than a consultant.

Whether you're a brand or an individual I listen to your needs to help you get where you need to be. I love working with clients who are ready to invest the time to make changes that will have a lasting impact.

I also offer 1/2 day and full day Research Trips and Design Safaris in Paris for businesses, organizations and individuals researching a particular topic or trend.

Anne Stark Ditmeyer is an American design and communications consultant based in Paris, France. She founded Prêt à Voyager (translation: ready to travel) in 2007 to explore the intersection of travel and design with the mantra "travel is not about where you go, but how you see the world." Anne has never been one to take the traditional path, and enjoys collaborating with a range of clients in the realms of travel, design, and education, particularly through workshops and consultations.

[The above paragraph was written in 3rd person for when someone needs my bio.]

Random facts about me: I've lived in 5 U.S. states, 2 countries, and on a ship around the world, I love maps, I've visited a country for every year I've been alive, I've visited all the public swimming pools in Paris, I'm featured in Lisa Congdon's book The Joy of Swimming, I was a coxswain on the men's crew team at UVA (I'm a very tall coxswain), I also know how to row (both sides), I enjoy taking hip-hop classes in French, I was able to stay in France because I started my own business, I never imagined the business section would be my favorite area in bookstores, I made a cameo in episode 6 of Rachel Khoo's 'The Little Paris Kitchen' on BBC, and I was an extra in the Pierce Brosnan/Emma Thompson movie 'The Love Punch' but I got cut.